Top-buggy.



No.. 821,727. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

' J. MORRIS.

. TOP BUGGY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG,2 0.1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET l PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I/III/II UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MORRIS, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STREATOR METAL STAMPING COMPANY, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TOP-BUGGY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1906.

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MORRIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Streator, in the county of Lasalle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in To -Buggies, of which the following is a speci cation, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

My invention relates to improvements in top-buggies, and has for its object to provide a new and improved construction by which the joints in the usual side braces of a buggytop may readily be broken by the occupant of the vehicle. I accomplish this object as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described.

What I regard as new is set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the corner-brackets. Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the operating devices by which the brace-joints are broken. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of the lever and the adjacent parts. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the connecting plates used in the construction shown in the figures above referred to. Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of the operating-lever which coacts with said plates. Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a modification. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the connecting-plate used in the construction shown in Fig. 9, and Fi 12 is a perspective view showing a modified arrangement for connecting the braces with the operating-shaft in the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Referring to the drawings, 13 indicates the body of the buggy, 14 the seat-frame, and 15 the top, of which 16 1.7 are the usual braces jointed at 18 in the ordinary way.

19 indicates an operating-shaft which eX- tends longitudinally of the seat-frame and transversely of the body of the buggy and is fitted in suitable bearings in ears 20, carried by corner-brackets 21 22, which are fitted in the corners of the seat-frame so that the ears project slightly above the upper edge of the seat-frame, as shown in Fig. 1, and are secured to the ends and back of the seatframe, being provided with angularly-disposed wings or members 23 23 for that purpose.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8 the ends of the shaft 19 are squared, as shown at 23 24 in Fig. 4, and the braces 16 17 are provided with correspondingly-shaped sockets, which fit upon the outer end portions of said shaft. It will be understood that the term squared is used in a generic sense to mean any shape non-circular in cross-section. As also shown in Fig. 4, the squared portion of one end of the shaft 19, preferably the left-hand end portion thereof, extends to a point near the ear 20, a shoulder 25 being provided a short distance from said ear. The object of said shoulder is to provide a stop against which a connecting-plate 26 may abut, said plate being fitted upon the squared portion 23 so as to turn with said shaft.

Fig. 7 illustrates the construction of the connecting-plate 26, which, as therein shown, is provided with a hole 27, which corresponds in shape to the squared portion 22 of said shaft. Said plate is also provided with a projecting portion 28, preferably formed by cutting down the periphery of the lower portion of said plate. It may, however, be formed in any other suitable way, as by providing a lug at a suitable point on said plate. 29 indicates the operating-lever, which is mounted on the rounded portion of the shaft 19 between the connecting-plate 26 and the car 20. (Best shown in Fig. 4.) The lever 29 is provided With a laterally-projecting lug 30, which projects over the reduced portion of the plate 26 and is adapted to engage the projecting portion 28 thereof, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The arrangement is such that when the lever 29 is in a horizontal position the lug 30 is in contact with the projecting portion 28 of the plate 26. Consequently by raising said lever the plate 26 is rocked, thereby rocking the shaft 19, and consequently rocking back the braces 16 17 and breaking the joints 18. When the joints have been broken, the lever 29 may be employed to lower the buggy-top, or, if desired, it may be turned to its horizontal position without affecting the buggy-top. This construction is desirable, since it permits the operating-lever to be re- ICO stored to its normal positionwhen the buggytop has been lowered. 31 32 indicate springs mounted on the end portions of the shaft 19 between the ears 20 and the braces 16 17, respectively. The inner end of each springengages lugs 33, carried by the corner-brackets 21 22, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A'plu rality of said lugs are provided for adjusting the tension, of the springs. The outer ends of said springs are connected to plates '34 35, respectively, mounted on the shaft 19 adjacent to the inner surfaces of the braces 16 17, respectively. Said plates are provided with squared openings, which fit upon the squared portions 23 24 of said shaft, so that they turn with the shaft. The purpose of said springs is to assist in raising the buggy-top Their arrangement is such that they are put under tension when the buggy-top is lowered. 36 indicates covering-sleeves, which are fitted over the springs 31 32 and fit between the plates 26 34 at one side of the buggy and between the ear 20 and the plate 35 at the other side. 37 indicates screw-caps which are screwed upon the ends of the shaft 19 to hold the parts together.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 I have illustrated a modified construction, in which the operating-lever 38 is not provided with the lug 30 and is connected with the operating-shaft 39 by means of a connecting plate 40, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 39 and is connected therewith through a notched plate 41, which is fitted upon the squared portion of the shaft 39, so as to rotate therewith. This construction is best shown in Fig. 9. It will be noted that the connecting-plate 40 is provided with a lug 42, which extends over the upper edge of the lever 38 and engages one of the notches in the periphery of the plate 41. This construction provides for adjusting the normal position of the operating-lever 38, which is accomplished by shifting the lug 42 from one notch to another of the plate 41. The operating-shaft 39 further differs from the operating-shaft 19 in that theside braces are loosely mounted upon its outer ends and are connected thereto by connecting-plates 43, which are fitted upon the shaft 39, so as to rotate therewith, and are provided with a laterally-projecting pin 44, which engages the adjacent side brace. 45. In other respects the plates 43 correspond withthe lates 34 35 of the construction illustrated in ig. 4. It will be noted that in the constructionillustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 the cars 20 of the corner-brackets 21 22 lie next to the inner ends of the sleeves 36. If desired, instead of providing the plates 43 with pins 44 plates 46 may be used, having grooves 47, in which'the side braces fit, or any other suit able means may be employed for connecting the side braces with said plates.

By the construction and arrangement of the parts shown it will be evident that both of the-side braces must be moved simultaneously, thereby avoiding the racking and straining of parts which frequently accomany the operation of lowering a buggy-top By hand. The operating-lever may, if desired, be located at either side of the buggy, or levers may be provided at both sides; but it will generally be found more convenient to provide a single lever at the right-hand end of the seat, as illustrated in the drawings.

By my invention I am able to quickly equip any ordinary buggy with a top-loweringdevice that is simple, inexpensive in construction, and neat in appearance. By the use of seat corner-brackets, as illustrated and described, a rigid support is provided for the operatin parts and provision is made for regulating t e tension of the lifting-springs.

It will be understood that while I have described in detail my improvements as illustrated in the accompanying drawings my invention is not restricted to the specific constructions described, except in so far as they are specifically claimed, but includes generically the subject-matter of the broader claims.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vehicle, the combination of a seat, a folding top therefor, jointed braces for holding said top in position, a shaft with which the lower end portions 'of said braces are connected, the end portions of said shaft being squared, bearings in which the rounded portions of said shaft are fitted, a lever rotatably fitted upon said shaft, a disk non-rotatably fitted upon a squared portion of said shaft, and means coacting with said disk for connecting said lever with saidshaft.

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a seat, a folding top therefor, jointed braces for said top, a rock-shaft with which the lower end portions of said braces are connected, apertured brackets secured to the seat, said shaft extended through and journaled in said brackets, a lever rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent to one of said brackets, a disk non-rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent to said lever, and means coacting with said disk for connecting said lever therewith when the bu gy-top is in its raised position.

3. In a ve icle, the combination of a seat, a rock-shaft journaled thereon and having its ends projecting beyond the side edges of the seat, a folding top, jointed braces for holding said top in its raised position, the

lower end portions of said braces being conacross said body and having connected to it near its ends a pair of braces secured to said top, supports in which said shaft is axially movable, two plates, one of which is fixed and the other of which is loose on said shaft, said loose plate carrying a projection adapted to engage the fixed plate, and a lever adapted to be moved against said projection, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a buggy-body, and its movable top, of a shaft extending across said body and having connected to it near its ends a pair of braces secured to said top, supports in which said shaft is axially movable, a plate secured to said shaft so as to turn therewith and provided with a notched edge, a second plate loose on said shaft and provided with a lateral projection adapted to engage the notched edge of said firstnamed plate, and a lever for moving said plates, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a buggy-body and its movable top, of a shaft extending across said body and having connected to it near its ends a pair of braces secured to said top, supports in which said shaft is axially movable, a plate secured to said shaft so as to turn therewith and provided with a notched edge, a second plate loose on said shaft and provided with a lateral projection adapted to engage the notched edge of said first-named plate, and a lever loosely mounted on said shaft between said plates and adapted to be turned to strike against said projection, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a buggy-body and its movable top, of a shaft that is angular in cross-section at its ends and having mounted at its ends a pair of braces secured to said top, supports for said shaft having enlarged openings to permit the shaft to turn axially,

twoplates one of which is fitted upon said shaft to turn therewith and the other of which is loose thereon, a pro'ection carried by the loose-fitting plate an engaging the fixed plate, a lever loosely carried on said shaft between said plates and adapted to be turned to strike against said projection, and connectionsbetween said shaft and pair of top braces to cause said braces to move with the axial movement of the shaft, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a buggy-body and a movable top therefor, of a rock-shaft extending across said body, a pair of brackets secured to said body, each of said brackets having a vertical ear through which said shaft passes and one or more notches on its outer face, a sleeve around said shaft beyond each of said cars, a coiled spring in each sleeve, one end of each spring being held in one of the said notches on the adjacent bracket, top braces carried by and movable with the shaft, and a lever for rocking said shaft, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a buggy-body and its movable top, of a rock-shaft extending across said body, a bracket having an ear through which said shaft passes, a sleeve having one of its ends closed by said ear, and having its other end closed by a plate that is carried by and turns with said shaft, a coiled spring within said sleeve, one end of said spring being secured to said bracket, a buggytop brace mounted on said shaft, means carried by said plate for engaging said brace, a

nut on said shaft, and a lever for rocking said shaft, substantially as described.

JAMES MORRIS. Witnesses:

C. G. WIGNALL, D. R. HALLADAY. 

